Ed Martin is the only applicant who previously campaigned for a board seat. He was unsuccessful in two election bids. Until recently, he regularly attended board meetings. He belongs to the Concerned East Penn Taxpayers Association, a controversial group that lost its representation on the board during the last election.

Mitchell also frequently attends board meetings, and Robert has been in the public spotlight for several years as chairman of the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission.

Perna recently became involved in the strategic planning process, a comprehensive revamping of curriculum, programs and academic goals for the district's students.

Nearly all the candidates are parents of students attending classes in East Penn.

The school board is scheduled to hold a committee-of-the whole meeting next Monday to conduct interviews. Kriner's replacement is expected to be appointed during the March 11 board meeting.

Kriner resigned on Feb. 11, saying her feelings about religion had grown stronger over the past year, and she believed that she could be more effective helping youngsters if she was not serving as a policy-maker on the board.